The Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan Initiative started a vigil on 25 June 2012 in Strasbourg, to demand the physical freedom of Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan and to break the isolation he is subjected to. The vigil continues in its 549th week.

Members of Tevgera Ciwanên Şoreşger (Revolutionary Youth Movement) took over the vigil this week. Cabbar Cigerxwin, Hagi Tekoşer, Shinwar Amed and Mehmet Açıkgöz are the young activists who took over the vigil.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Cabbar Cigerxwin drew attention to the massacre that took place in Paris on 23 December, and said: “We will definitely hold those responsible for this massacre accountable. As young people, we are very angry, but we are not in favor of violence. We want this massacre to be brought to light and those responsible to be brought to justice."

Continuing his speech, Cigerxwin underlined the heavy isolation imposed by the Turkish state on Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan: “We haven't heard from our leadership for nearly two years. We demand that international organizations, especially the CPT, fulfill their duties. They need to take action so that isolation ends. We remind everyone once again that our leadership is our red line.”